Everyone has heard the term dumbed down. Rarely do you hear smarted up, which describes this quiz. It’s only five questions, but you have to be really, really smart to do well. Most contestants go 0-for-5, so don’t despair if it happens to you. Good luck!
1) What is a fartlek workout?
A) A run with many obstacles that runners have to leap or crawl over.
B) A workout that happens in a dream that can take the place of your real workout the next day.
C) A reference to passing gas made up by an immature group of high school runners in 1974.
D) A Swedish word meaning “speed play” in which a fast pace is run at intervals during a distance run.
E) An intense speed workout in which javelin throwers, after being induced into a psychotic trance by the team hypnotist, take turns chasing the distance runners with javelin in hand.
2) Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia, pictured above, won the 2012 Olympic women’s 10,000 meters in 30:20.76. What was her pace per mile?
A) A swift 4:53.
B) Too complex to calculate.
C) Can be calculated, but scientists are still working on it.
D) Just under eight megaticks.
E) Time is just a set of numerals and really isn’t important.
3) In 1976, American Frank Shorter attempted to repeat his 1972 Olympic marathon gold performance. He finished 2nd to a relative unknown, East German Waldemar Cierpinski, pictured above. What issue do many consider a factor that allowed Cierpinski to unfairly win?
A) Thanks to East German technology, Cierpinski wasn’t a real runner, but a hologram.
B) At a secluded mid-race location, Cierpinski jumped in the race, taking over for twin brother Guenther.
C) Cierpinski was part of the East German program that produced championship athletes with performance enhancing drugs.
D) Inattentive finish judges mistakenly believed Cierpinski finished ahead of Shorter.
E) Your place isn’t so important. Just finishing makes everyone a winner.
4) In the 1984 Olympic women’s 3000 meters, a mid-race incident involving favorites and race leaders Zola Budd of Great Britian and Mary Decker-Slaney of the US knocked both out of contention. What happened?
A) When Zola Budd realized she’d lost her good luck bracelet, Mary Decker-Slaney insisted they both stop and look for it.
B) Both competitors got so wrapped up discussing training techniques that they fell far behind the pack.
C) A playful Decker-Slaney tapped Budd on the shoulder while passing and said, “You’re it”. To avoid being tagged by the highly competitive Budd, Decker-Slaney was forced to take refuge in a trackside port-a-potty.
D) Budd and Decker-Slaney decided a stack of hurdles sitting next to the track was a hazard. Together, they stopped and moved them to a better spot.
E) Budd brushed Decker-Slaney, causing her to fall and not return to the race. Zola Budd intentionally slowed and finished 7th to avoid being labeled a villain.
5) Eating lots of falafel has long been a basic training strategy for Egyptian runners. How is falafel made?
A) Falafel is not made. It grows on bushes in the mountains.
B) Falafel is a by-product of oil refining.
C) Falafel tastes best on Tuesdays.
D) Falafel is mysterious.
E) Falafel.
Answers: 1) D – A Swedish word meaning speed play. 2) A – 4:53 per mile. 3) C – East German program produced championship athletes with PED’s 4) E – Budd brushed Decker-Slaney, causing her to fall 5) E – Falafel
5 right – Plato, Einstein, Da Vinci, and (insert your name here).
4 right – Contact any Ivy League school. A four-year academic scholarship is yours.
3 right – Mentioning this score to Alex Trebek will get you on Jeopardy.
2 right – Mensa still considers you one of them.
1 right – Consider yourself hired if you mention this score on any job application.
0 right – Please enroll in my affordable on-line course, Ordinary to Genius in 30 Days.